I mentioned that there were two upcoming Lexis Numerique titles. I really liked what I saw with AMY. On the other hand, Red Johnson’s Chronicles looks nice, but I’m not so bullish on it. It certainly does try to be… Continue Reading →

I mentioned that there were two upcoming Lexis Numerique titles. I really liked what I saw with AMY. On the other hand, Red Johnson’s Chronicles looks nice, but I’m not so bullish on it. It certainly does try to be different with a more mature take on adventure games. Visually, it looks gorgeous with environments that are a mix of polygons and backdrops. It’s detailed and dynamic with trains and people moving back and forth and characters that linger around the shadows.

As for gameplay, it’s a mix of Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright. The title character, Red Johnson, is an investigator of sorts. He’s working a case on a murder at Drownedman’s Bridge. Most of the action takes place in the first person with Red trolling scenes of the crime Columbo-style. Occasionally, during quicktime action sequences and interrogations it’ll go to third-person.

So where does the Professor Layton part come in? Well, Red Johnson’s Chronicles features puzzles in the guise of obstacles. For example, the protagonist will have to enter an apartment building by sneaking in through the window. Unfortunately, there’s a screen blocking it and Red will have to hack into it by moving these green squares toward the center in a tilelike puzzle.

If the problems are too tough for players, they can always turn to Saul, who is Red’s supersmart friend. He’ll offer hints to players, but they come at a price because each puzzle and interaction is graded and the scores are tallied up at the end of the game.

Eventually, Red breaks in to the apartment, he’ll face an aforementioned quicktime event, where he’ll battle a man with a fire poker. Then things get interesting when a mobster named Black Plague Carlos pulls a gun on Red. It brings up a dialogue prompt that’s timed. (There’s no way to deliberate a response. It has to be on the cuff.) If you get the response wrong, Red fails the challenge and has to start over again, which can get a little annoying I imagine.

The Phoenix Wright influence comes in the how Red analyzes the evidence he collects. He can look over it the same way Phoenix Wright does. Checking a gun, he can look over the barrel and the hammer and eventually find an unfired bullet. He can then match the casing to another one fired at the crime scene. To get more evidence, player’s can manipulate characters. What’s more, Red will be able to interrogate witnesses and sources, and if they tell a lie, he can call them on it and show evidence so that he can get to the truth. It’s his own little “Objection.”

Once he visits Carlos, he’ll end up getting his number. He can then distract the mobster by drawing him out of his apartment. Players can then sneak into Carlos’ pad once again undetected and search for clues. Inside the mobster’s personal space, Red will come across another puzzle. This one involves a safe with a combination. The clues to the numbers are in a painting and players will have to look for the them in a hidden-object time game.

Eventually, after much investigation, Red will be able to narrow down his list of suspects and accuse someone of the crime. Players don’t have to get all the evidence in a case to make the accusation, but they need enough to make a case. They’ll have come up with the suspect, the motive and the proof and send the file to a judge.

As the name implies, there could be more Red Johnson’s Chronicles in the future. Lexis Numerique has high hopes that this type of episodic adventure gaming can work. I’m not too high on the character design, but the rest of the game has flashes of brilliance. It makes me wonder how consistent the puzzles and problem-solving is when it’s releases later this year on PlayStation Network.

In the wake of our Halloween ghost hunt, where we went ghostbusting at three famous Valley haunts, we invited you to email us with your questions for Martin. The Los Gatos psychic detective says she has been seeing dead people since she was a little girl. At 70, she considers herself an expert on things that go bump in the night. We were promptly deluged with questions on all manner of spectral concerns. Martin answers some of your supernatural queries below, and remember, the truth is out there.

Q: TL Iwafuchi asks:

My mother predicted that she would die before my father, even though she was 59, and not ill. My father was 82 at the time. Mom said she was at peace with everyone and felt like she had accomplished everything in life that she wanted to do. She also told me some things about watching my son at age 13 for tummy troubles, and that my daughter would be very creative. She didnâ€™t say a lot about me, except that my best and most successful years were coming. She was drinking at the time so I didnâ€™t think much about the conversation. Two days later, she died of deep vein thrombosis. Now I wish I had listened more carefully! Sometimes I think she is hanging around to make sure I donâ€™t hurt myself or get in trouble. I donâ€™t feel like she is a constant presence, but more like she checks in every once in a while. Can “normal” folks be psychic? How would I know if she is hanging around?

A: Dear TL Iwafuchi,

“Every child that comes into the world is sensitive, but rarely is the child encouraged to recognize and enjoy the benefits of their so – called sixth sense.” __quote from Annette Martinâ€™s book “Discovering Your Psychic World.”

We are all born with six senses, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and the sixth sense, sensing or a knowing. We all have the capacity to learn how to develop this skill of sensing or knowing.

It sounds to me that your mother was quite intuitive herself, which would make it easier for her to contact you from the spirit world. Generally when a spirit comes to you, there will be an electrical sensation, you might feel cold, or a chill, or a queasiness in your stomach, or light headed. Some can actually smell a fragrance that perhaps a mother or grandmother used in life, so that they are able to recognize that this is mother or grandmother. Sometimes they will try to do something that you would recognize, like a bird coming to your window, the smell of cookies baking, when you are not baking cookies or anything. I have heard many stories of beautiful butterflies coming to the window or if you are outside, landing on your hand. It is different, of course for everyone, so you need to remember what your mother liked and loved in life. This is how they try to convince you that it is them by doing something that you would remember or recognize.

When you sense this the best thing to do is sit down and close your eyes and talk to the spirit, to see what they have to say. They may just be coming to make sure you are all right, or maybe to tell you something. Or to check on your children. They rarely will stay a long time, just long enough to see how things are going or to tell you something.

Q: LKN asks:

We work in the Water Tower II Building in downtown Campbell, this building was the prune factory… we sometimes feel that someone is watching us and sometimes in the morning papers are all moved to different desk tops. Strange.. what have you heard about our building.

A: Dear LKN,

No one has approached me about the Water Tower II building in downtown Campbell. This is the first time that I have heard of any paranormal occurrences there. If you are having papers moving around consistently and being moved to different desk tops, then you may surely have a ghost. To make sure of this and find out who it is, is it male or female, what they are doing there, are they willing to go into the White Light and anything else that I can pick up from them. The best thing would be for me to come down to the office and check it out.

Q: O.M. Ramirez says:

This is just one question, always wanted to know at what age of their lives ghosts come back: the age they were when they died? A different age of special significance to them? When people see them, what age of their lives do they present? Any idea why they appear at that age, the significance of it?

A: Dear O.M. Ramirez,

First of all: Ghost do not come back, they are usually in one place, as where they died, were murdered, or lost. But generally they stay put in the place where they past away.

When we talk about a loved one coming to visit us for a short period of time we are talking about a Spirit, the consciousness of our deceased relative or friend. This consciousness has gone into the White Light and are on the other side. They will only stay for a very short time, to check in on you or to try give you a message and then they leave.

As for the age it differs according to how they see themselves. What I have experienced is that the spirit will appear when they feel they were in the best of health or a special time in their lives that was significant, like a birthday party or celebration of some kind. If they passed away in their 60â€™s or 80â€™s, they might appear to be in their 20â€™s or 30â€™s, or 40″s, each one is different and unique in their physical appearance. I believe that many times they will take on something that you remember about them so that you will recognize your Mother, Father, friend, husband, wife or other loved one. You must remember that they still have the same consciousness and will want to appear healthy and happy.

Q: Christina Lacroix asks:

Iâ€™ve always believed in an afterlife, even had personal experiences when I was younger. But Iâ€™m stuck here…Four years ago my daughter was killed in an accident that should have, but was not investigated. I feel her, but havenâ€™t had a single dream of her. We had an incredible relationship. I canâ€™t think of anything left unsaid… I know, as do her friends, that more happened. The man (and driver) that survived, went to jail, got married in jail, gets out in 2 years – and Iâ€™m still in legal limbo. I donâ€™t know if I block out her presence to survive grief (I have to think of my husband and 3 sons)or if it is my way of avoiding grief so I can move forward. Iâ€™ve felt her presence (especially in one room of the house) and seen signs… Iâ€™m curious about the opinion of a psychic…. She was a diamond. So many people miss her. I miss her. Any thoughts?

A: Dear Christina,

I do not believe that you are blocking your grief and I do believe that you are feeling her presence in your home. My sense is that she is trying to let you know that she is alright and she doesnâ€™t want you to worry about her. She wants you to move forward and to get on with your life with your family. She is coming back frequently to make sure that you all are doing well and that you understand that she is fine. And also that she doesnâ€™t want you to be angry with the man that survived the accident but to forgive him instead. Sometimes we do not dream of our lost loved ones but instead experience their presence and I feel that is exactly what is happening with you.

Q: Paul Bonick asks:

My brother Peter Bonick and his friend rick lampson disappeared in march 1970 and were never heard from again. they were hitchhiking from san mateo to half moon bay. my mother went to sylvia brown with no results. our loss naturally has been hardest on my mother but if we could get some closure. if you have the time i would appreciate your help.

A: Dear Paul,

Thank you for writing in about your brother and his friend who disappeared in 1970. I am terribly sorry for your loss and hope that I can help to bring some closure to your family. Our process for working on missing persons is for the family to get in touch with the Detective on the case and send him our web address: www.closure4u.com. If he is open to working with me he would need to call or email our office so we can set up a time to do a session with him. All missing person cases are handled through the police agencies. We will also send you a letter as to what is required to start the process please email our office. Our email address is: annette@closure4u.com

Q: Leslie Meisner asks:

Annette, can you speak about pets. When they “cross Rainbow Bridge” will we see them again? Can they stay close to us even though they are in spirit form? Will we meet up with them when -we- cross the bridge? Two of our sweet dogs, passed away, Muush in Dec â€˜07 and Sofie in Aug â€˜08. Sofie was mine, and I hers. Iâ€™ve had dreams and messages from her. She lives in my heart and I miss her so much. She taught me so much. She is the best “person” Iâ€™ve ever known. I know she is OK. Will we ever be together again? Thank you.

A: Hello Leslie,

Yes, when an animal has “crossed the Rainbow Bridge” passed over to the other side, they can be accessible. They can stay close to you in spirit form and I have had many personnel experiences with clients of mine. One particular time while doing a reading on a lady from Northern California, I closed my eyes to see what else was going on with her health and saw this dog, described the color, shape, the personality of the dog and that he was around her frequently. The dog was a family pet that had passed over a month or so before this reading. The woman was sobbing at the thought that she could still be in communication with her beloved friend of 13 years. I saw that the dog was with her quite often, especially in the kitchen and the woman said, that she felt his presence every time she was cooking but thought maybe she was imagining things.

I do have and know of stories where the animal has reincarnated into another animal of the same species. From what I gather they do not change species, so a cat stays in the cat realm and a dog and so forth. Just recently a client brought in a photo of a new puppy they found at their veterinarians. They had put to sleep their 12 year old German Sheppard six months before and the vet called her to say, “I think we have found a puppy for you that you are going to love!” When they arrived at the office and met the puppy the woman could see some resemblance to her German Sheppard and by the end of a month she was convinced it was the same dog. The mannerisms were the same, the way the dog behaved and special things the first dog always did were identical. When I held the photo, I knew immediately this was the same soul of a dog they had before, the interesting thing was the lady had not told me that this was a new puppy they had just gotten.

With the thousands of readings that I have done throughout my life, I have not seen an animal with the spirit, when we cross over into the light, as a human being. What I have seen is that the animals have their own place where they reside after death.

Q: Jan L. asks:

I have heard that everyone has a “sixth sense” or, in other words, some psychic ability. How can a person to whom it does not come naturally develop his/her psychic ability?

A: Hello Jan L.

Every child that comes into the world is sensitive, but rarely is the child encouraged to recognize and enjoy the benefits of their so-called sixth sense. The renowned psychic, Edgar Cayce believed that everyone is psychic to some degree because, as he said, it was a “natural ability of the soul.” All of us have what are called â€˜psychic abilities, but in most of us, these abilities have not been detected. ESP, Extra Sensory Perception, being psychic, is “the ability to receive or send information not using the five senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.” Hence, the term, “sixth sense.” And it generally consists of five categories:

.telepathy – mind-to-mind communication

.clairvoyance – seeing events or objects through an inner sight

.precognition – the ability to view events before they occur

.retrocognition – the ability to view past events

.psychometry – the ability to learn the history of an object by touching it

Fortunately, there are exercises and books, including mine, “Discovering Your Psychic World,” to help you develop your sixth sense. I firmly believe that, “If one starts with enthusiasm and practices patience along with the exercises, the unlimited powers within will manifest.” It definitely takes time for the subconscious to be able to communicate with the conscious mind, and the best way to do this is to simply start thinking about it. Read about the subject. Knowledge will help, as you need some understanding of how things work. Start out like you are taking up a new hobby. Become involved in it, buy books and magazines.

The first step is to acknowledge that “psychic ability” or the “sixth sense,” exists and that it is present within you to develop. Although this might sound silly or trite, begin by telling yourself that you are intuitive. Make it a mantra or prayer that you repeat to yourself daily and often. This kind of self-talk has a scientific basis. It is now known that when a person learns something – whether itâ€™s a physical skill like learning to play golf or a mental exercise like memorizing music – through repetition, his or her brain physically changes – “rewires” itself, if you will – to accommodate that task. This process of rewiring your brain for psychic ability begins with your belief in it and having patience with yourself.

Q: L.V.West asks:

If we are beings that are eternal, then is it possible that we have more than one “incarnation” on this planet? And if we have “been here before” are these existences sequential in time, one after the next? I ask this because I wonder how those to talk to ancestors are doing it.. are those ancestors talking from a place removed, or could that being actually be on the planet at this time and still be able to communicate this way?

A: Hello L.V. West

I do believe that we incarnate more than once on this planet earth. What I have observed and experienced is that the incarnations can be several hundred years apart to just a few years in between. During a reading if the client wants to know about a past life or I just tune into one, it invariably has something to do with the life they are living now. Either they havenâ€™t finished something and are back here to complete that process or they are holding on to something that is coming from a past life and they just canâ€™t understand why their life isnâ€™t working. It has been amazing to see the light go on in someoneâ€™s head when I have seen this other life they have led have such an impact on what they were trying to work on in this life. It has helped so many to sort out the deep dark secret within them and have a realization that they can change their life. I have found it to be so freeing and healthy for the client to experience this awakening.

The ancestors who have past away come in a spirit form or just a voice and will talk to the psychic or medium. Some times in my readings they just interrupt and start talking to me, letting me know what their concerns are for their loved one. We also call this channeling or being a medium, where the departed talk through the consciousness of the medium or psychic. Spirits can also come to us in our sleep or in those twilight hours where we are drifting into sleep or just before you wake up in the morning. You are very relaxed during this time and your conscious mind is quiet allowing your un-conscious mind to be active.

Q: Patricia J. asks:

I keep getting spirit visitors thru my home and especially at night since Iâ€™m up into the wee hours. Often one will try to connect with me thru my solar plexus and it can be very painful-what can I do to stop this? Thanks so much for your help!

A: Hello Patiricia J,

I donâ€™t blame you for wanting to stop the pain as that is not necessary. You will have to be very firm and say out loud to the spiritâ€™s that you do not want them coming to visit you. Tell them that they need to do their visiting somewhere else and to leave you alone.

I wrote about this in my new biography, “Gift of the White Light.” While living in Mexico City I became like a stopping off place for folks that had just passed away. They came to say good – bye and some of them I didnâ€™t even know, but they knew me. I had to get very firm about them not coming and it worked, so I know that you can do this too. Good luck.

Q: Jonathon Woodgate asks:

My mother past away in 2004 after a lengthy illness. The circumstances surrounding her death were very painful for my family, and we miss her terribly. The last proper discussion Iâ€™d had with my mother was a heated argument, and I feel very guilty about this. What does my mother say? Is she ok? Does she forgive me?

A: Hello Jonathon,

Once we pass over into the light, our patterns that were used on earth, take a bit of a different view. We carry the same consciousness but what I have observed is that they, the spirits, begin to understand the fragility of their loved ones in a flesh and blood body. I donâ€™t see your mother holding any grudge or anger towards you and I feel that you need to forgive yourself and not feel guilty. None of us are perfect and we all have our own concepts of what the world is all about and what we think others should do, so stop blaming yourself and get on with your life. Your mother has forgiven you.

Q: Charmayne says:

Dear Annette,

I live with my parents in a new home (now 10 years old). My parents often go to their second home as I stay here to take care of the house. I am often woken up in the early morning with thumping and running in attic and walking around in my parents room when nobody is there. Who is it? I have often felt a presence in my room as my cat wonâ€™t come in. How can I ask this entity to go away? Thank you for your help.

A: Hello Charmayne,

Well, it sounds like you might have a ghost in the house. Have your parents heard the thumping and running in the attic as well? Are there any other abnormal things happening in the house, like TVâ€™s going on and off or radioâ€™s? If not, then I would say you just have a ghost who is curious as to who you are. I donâ€™t feel any real negativity coming from the ghost towards you, just a curiosity. You might want to talk out loud telling the ghost that it is scarring you and you want it to go away. You can also play loud music and sometimes they canâ€™t handle the loud sound and will leave or you can call a “ghost buster,” to come and help you.

Q: Cindy asks:

Hi Annette.. I greatly enjoyed your new book and Iâ€™m looking forward to having another private session with you soon. My question is this: From your lifelong experiences with the supernatural, do you believe there are other dimensions and/or parallel universes; and, if so, is this where Heaven or our afterlife resides?

A: Hello Cindy,

I am so glad that you enjoyed my new biography, “Gift of the White Light.” I do believe that there are other dimensions and/or parallel universes. This is what the other side looks like to me. Since I was raised in Catholicism, I would call it Heaven or a place of great light where our afterlife resides. During many readings I will see our loved ones in a spirit form. They are standing, sitting or sometimes laying down in a beautiful place where there seems to be many different spaces. Class rooms, lovely gardens, rooms that have beautifully decorated chairs or pillows on a floor where many are seated or half laying down. The departed seem to be very busy learning and understanding in this other dimension. Then there are the ones that are still very tired from the physical aspect of their body on earth and are still recuperating. Sometimes I hear music as well while receiving information from these spirits.

Q: Michael C asks: I have heard that the best way to get rid of an unwanted ghost is just to ask it to leave. Is it really that simple? What about exorcisms etc? Please explain.

A: Dear Michael C,

Sometimes it is difficult to ask an unwanted ghost to just leave. Here are some techniques if you are trying to do it yourself, below are techniques used by myself.

1. Before you start, surround yourself with White Light for protection, if there are others with you, have them do this as well. This must be a complete sphere that goes all the way around your body, without any holes or gaps. It is most important that you believe that you are protected by the White Light. Sometimes the ghost does not know that they are dead or they are very confused as to why no one can see or hear them.

2. Ask them to leave, explaining in a loving voice that they are dead and itâ€™s time for them to move on into the light and be with their family members. Once they have made that transition they can come and visit as a spirit to check on their loved ones still alive. Be courteous at first and then be firmer in your tone of voice, as if you really mean it. Shouting at them does not do it as they might become more angry with you.

3. If this does not work, you can make the place unpleasant for them, like playing very loud music, or saying horrible things for days on end. This has worked for some people, as the ghost will get disgusted and go on into the light to get away from it all.

4. Many times I will ask folks to put a crucifix above their bed, so that they can sleep without being disturbed.

5. You can get some sage and burn it in all corners of every room in the house, allow the smoke to slowly go up the walls and to the ceiling, take your time. Be sure and open all the windows and doors while doing this. As you are walking around talk out loud to the ghost and tell them that you want them to go out of your house or office or building and they need to go into the light, where they will be safe and happy.

Consult an expert on ghost releasement. Many paranormal research organizations have, or know of, such experts; they are in virtually every community. A releaser is generally a clairvoyant, a psychic person who is skilled in the psychic arts, and has the ability to perceive and communicate with certain ghosts, especially those who are souls who apparently got stuck and did not completely cross over.

When I am called to help remove an unwanted ghost, the first thing I do is ask many questions of the owners of the house, restaurant, hotel, bar or building, as to what type of conditions they are experiencing. These people are the witnesses and very important in the process as they are the ones who have experienced something abnormal. This will let me know if they actually do have a ghost or (Apparition), or if it is an impression as parapsychology calls a haunting.

Apparitions,(Ghosts) are often confused with impressions or hauntings. The difference is that apparitions, “Ghosts” are “live” (intelligent consciousness) An apparition or “Ghost” is what is heard, seen, felt or smelled and is related to some part of the human personality/soul/mind that can somehow exist in our physical universe after the death of its body. A Ghost, is twofold: the consciousness must survive and it must be able to communicate or interact somehow with living people.

A haunting or impression is a “recording, like a video that plays over and over again.” You cannot talk or interact with a haunting or impression, it is stationary.

Once I have established that they do indeed have a ghost than I will go to the restaurant, store, hotel, bar or house and see what I can do to help the ghost go into the light.

Generally what happens is that when I walk into a place, the ghost will see me and ask who I am. I will first hear their voice and they slowly begin to materialize in front of me. Itâ€™s as if they know immediately that I can hear and see them and they want to talk to me (I guess I just have a friendly face). I will ask why they are there, what happened to them, do they want to go into the light? For me it is so important to know what occurred so that I can talk to them about their particular situation. Sometimes they are confused, donâ€™t know that they are dead, are waiting for a loved one, can be angry that no one can hear or see them and are totally frustrated. By talking to them I can discover their story and counsel them and then convince them that they need to move into the light. Once I have their agreement that they want to cross over, I will locate in the building, where they have entered, (called a portal), and will ask them to stand at the entrance to the portal. Surrounding myself with White Light and taking several deep breaths I will then send them into the light with my breath and thoughts. This has worked many times throughout my lifetime and I have found it to be very complete.

Of course we have many places such as the Winchester mystery house where Clyde will never leave and the Moss Beach Distillery restaurant where Cayte is still waiting for her lover, Charlie. There are many restaurants, hotels and buildings around the US that do not want their ghost to leave as it creates activity in their businesses.

Q: Stephanie N. says:

I heard somewhere that ghosts are â€˜lost soulsâ€™, can you explain what that means. And how come some people who have passed on can become ghosts & wander around in the physical world? Why wouldnâ€™t they want to stay up in heaven or the spiritual world instead? Please explain.

A: Dear Stephanie,

After a person dies, the soul/spirit normally leaves the Earth plane by going through the tunnel to the White Light. The next step, for the deceased, is to do a life review and then be taken to the pure spirit level. My experience with those who have past and gone through the light are what I call Spiritâ€™s, they have maintained their same consciousness but are definitely in another plane of existence. Spiritâ€™s do not become Ghosts even though the consciousness stays the same and they do not wander or stay stuck on the earth. Spiritâ€™s will only come for short periods of time to comfort a loved one, give a message, to see a sick child or to convey a message through a medium or their loved one. Spiritâ€™s can also become a guide for someone.

Their energies are quite different from a Ghost or apparition. When a spirit comes through to me it is a more subtle feeling versus a cool and stronger sensation with a ghost. Goosebumps usually appear on my body with a ghost in a room, so I am able to define what it is immediately.

Spirits of relatives, for example will come and visit with a loved one and that loved one may smell a particular aroma, such as perfume that they always wore or even cakes and cookies that the person used to bake. They are trying to connect to their loved one so that they know they are with them for a short period of time.

However, some souls/spirits get stuck in the death process and do not or cannot go to the light. For some reason, the person may not know they are dead, or they are lost, thus the term, “A lost soul,” or they may refuse to pass over as they face some sort of hell on the other side due to crimes committed on the earthly plane. They could have experienced a sudden or violent and confusing death, have a fear of what or who they may encounter on the other side, or didnâ€™t have a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. My experience with “Ghosts” is that there are many different reasons why they stay and hang around the Earth plane. While being here in their “ghost” form many are very unhappy about their disorienting situation of being without a body and others are quite content, I have found.

Contact Karen Dâ€™Souza at kdsouza@mercurynews.com or (408) 271-3772. Check out her theater reviews, feature stories and blog at www.mercurynews.com/karendsouza

]]>Crossing over with Annette Martin. Got ghosts? Whether you’re bothered by pesky poltergeists, icky ectoplasm or serious ESP issues, we’re here to help. If you’ve got a question about the world of the paranormal, just post it here and we’ll pass it alongÂ to psychic detective Annette Martin, whose story is told in the new book “Gift of the White Light.” She’ll answer your supernatural questions and the answers may be featured in the paper in the coming days. The truth is out there.

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/10/22/looking-for-ghostbusters-call-us/feed/47“The K of D” (a mini-theater review)http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/10/03/the-k-of-d-a-mini-theater-review/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/10/03/the-k-of-d-a-mini-theater-review/#commentsSat, 04 Oct 2008 01:15:34 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=5965Now, as all of you die-hard blog readers know, I like me some horror. Indeed, some people out there might even consider me a bit of a gore hound and certainly there is no better time than now, as the… Continue Reading →

]]>Now, as all of you die-hard blog readers know, I like me some horror. Indeed, some people out there might even consider me a bit of a gore hound and certainly there is no better time than now, as the dusk deepens into murk in the days before Halloween, for a good-old-fashioned ghost story so it’s with great regret that I admit I found ”The K of D” to be a bit of a ZZZZZZZZ.

Don’t get me wrong, the actress at the heart of this solo show, the first play in Loretta Greco’s tenure at the Magic Theatre, brings some considerable charm to bear on stage. The hard-working Maya Lawson skips through all the characters in this teen Gothic, an urban legend about a girl who inherits from her dying twin brother the kiss of death. But Laura Shellhardt’s text relies so heavily on its sense of atmosphere, nicely evoked by director Rebecca Novick (who established her mastery with the eerie in last year’s unforgettable ”Anna Bella Eema”) that it forgets to make us care about what will happen next.

Almost as soon as the play begins, you can tell exactly how it will end, which characters will seal their fates, which makes it hard for Lawson to keep our attention for the whole 75 minutes. Also, some of the children are portrayed with far too much preciousness to maintain a truly ominous tone, which is mandatory in a spine-tingler. The actress does shine in some of the details, how a little girl holds herself like a bird, how panicked voices blend together in stream-of-consciousness chorus, but there’s not enough there, there to truly goose our bumps.Â Sigh.

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/10/03/the-k-of-d-a-mini-theater-review/feed/3kofdâ€˜â€™Blue Murderâ€™â€™ (set 3): a mini-reviewhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/15/%e2%80%98%e2%80%99blue-murder%e2%80%99%e2%80%99-set-3-a-mini-review/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/15/%e2%80%98%e2%80%99blue-murder%e2%80%99%e2%80%99-set-3-a-mini-review/#commentsTue, 16 Sep 2008 00:47:35 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=5720Iâ€™d rather be blue anyday. When it comes to classy cop shows, the Brits win the day from â€˜â€™Prime Suspectâ€™â€™ to â€˜â€™Blue Murder.â€™â€™ In my house the arrival of the latest ”Blue Murder” DVD box is an occasion worthy of… Continue Reading →

]]>Iâ€™d rather be blue anyday. When it comes to classy cop shows, the Brits win the day from â€˜â€™Prime Suspectâ€™â€™ to â€˜â€™Blue Murder.â€™â€™ In my house the arrival of the latest ”Blue Murder” DVD box is an occasion worthy of uncorking something yummy and setting up camp on the couch. DCI Janine, the heroine of this BBC gem, is like Jane Tennison meets Mrs. Brady. Sheâ€™s a hockey mum who spends her days up to her neck in corpses and then goes home to do the dishes and help with the math homework. Itâ€™s usually a thoroughly entertaining way to indulge your murder mystery habit without getting your id the least bit dirty. While the show is a teensy bit grittier than Miss Marple’s tea and crumpets it’s still way, way easier on your psyche than any season of â€˜â€™The Wire.â€™â€™ Sadly, while actress Caroline Quentin is every bit as plucky and appealing in this season, the show as a whole seems to have crossed the line from incisive psychological sagas into standard issue C.S.I.-style procedurals. Perhaps itâ€™s because there are only 3 episodes here but Set 3 just goes nowhere. Janineâ€™s second in command (Ian Kelsey) may well have the best ass in Manchester, as he is given to boasting, but all the cat and mouse games between them are starting to bore. The military whodunit (â€œCrisis Managementâ€) is the most gripping of the trio but it felt like too little too late. None of the crimes are intriguing enough on their own and there’s not enough traction between the murders and the personal lives of Janine’s team to make the episodes pop. Hereâ€™s hoping the writers can whip the plot back into shape by the next installment. Iâ€™ll be waiting, remote at the ready. DVD 2-Vol. Boxed Set: 3 episodes. Approx. 204 minutes. $39.99. www.acornonline.com.

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/15/%e2%80%98%e2%80%99blue-murder%e2%80%99%e2%80%99-set-3-a-mini-review/feed/0flex_blue_murder_3Patrick Stewart stars in â€˜â€™Eleventh Hour:” a mini TV reviewhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/04/patrick-stewart-stars-in-%e2%80%98%e2%80%99eleventh-hour-a-mini-tv-review/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/04/patrick-stewart-stars-in-%e2%80%98%e2%80%99eleventh-hour-a-mini-tv-review/#commentsThu, 04 Sep 2008 23:25:54 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=5557Make it so, baby. Star Trek junkies craving their Captain Picard fix ought to check out the cunning British thriller series â€˜â€™Eleventh Hour.â€™â€™ Alas, there are no Borgs in sight, but the science in this whodunit is as intriguing as… Continue Reading →

Star Trek junkies craving their Captain Picard fix ought to check out the cunning British thriller series â€˜â€™Eleventh Hour.â€™â€™ Alas, there are no Borgs in sight, but the science in this whodunit is as intriguing as it is terrifying.Â Patrick Stewart stars as Professor Ian Hood, Special Advisor to the British governmentâ€™s Joint Sciences Committee. Heâ€™s like Mulder meets CSI, a renegade science detective exposing black-market human cloning, global warming (this episode makes â€˜â€™An Inconvenient Truthâ€™â€™ seem warm and fuzzy) and a religious “cure” for cancer that pits faith against science.
Watch for great chemistry between Stewart and costar Ashley Jensen as his brassy blond Special Branch bodyguard Rachel, sort of like Seven of Nine with a cockney accent. Perhaps my favorite aspect of this show was that it never dumbs down the dark side of the plot. Science evolves. Human nature? Not so much. Innocent people suffer. Greed wins the day. The shadow government calls all the shots.

As with the best of the BBC, this show has tons of understated charm and it takes its time finding the tone and pace of the mysteries. Sadly, since it was cancelled after only episode 4, weâ€™ll never know if Hood would have outwitted the various government consiparies in play or if there was anything more than business between him and Rachel. Still Stewartâ€™s commitment to the role, that elegant sense of gravitas the stage veteran brings to the dialogue, makes this a must see for anyone who knows their androids from their Andorians.

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/04/patrick-stewart-stars-in-%e2%80%98%e2%80%99eleventh-hour-a-mini-tv-review/feed/0ehfromacornThe Last Detective: a mini reviewhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/08/the_last_detective_a_mini_review/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/08/the_last_detective_a_mini_review/#commentsFri, 09 May 2008 01:27:10 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/08/the_last_detective_a_mini_review/[photopress:LastDet4.jpg,thumb,pp_image] Dangerous Davies is “The Last Detective” his boss thinks of when a really huge case breaks. He’s the last detective to get a raise, the last detective to get any respect and the last detective that ought to be… Continue Reading →

Dangerous Davies is “The Last Detective” his boss thinks of when a really huge case breaks. He’s the last detective to get a raise, the last detective to get any respect and the last detective that ought to be played by someone as downright dishy as Peter Davison (previously known as the hot Dr. Who), even when he looks as rumpled as an unmade bed, as he so frequently does in this classy British TV import.

Ironically, Dangerous is hands-down the best crime solver in his North London police department. Think Columbo, only cuter. But life just isn’t fair in this gently wry English detective series. The good guy doesn’t just lose out here, he very commonly gets completely trampled by the system and roundly mocked by everyone he meets. Sometime it seems there is just no room for an honest cop in a crooked world.

At least by Season 4, our favorite middle-aged underdog has managed to woo his wife back into his life, but he also has to bring home the bacon for Mod (the estimable Sean Hughes) his freeloading sidekick pal, and outwit a gallery of homicidal masterminds in 5 episodes that combine suspense, intrigue and quirky character study for 342 minutes of chipper viewing consumption for those of us with a serious PBS-style mystery habit.

Make no mistake, gritty is not the operative word in this gentlemanly detective series. “The Wire,” this ain’t. But there’s a decency to the characters and an emotional depth to the relationships here that strikes this reviewer as utterly civilized. In the end, it’s rather sad to see Dangerous go. The only way to console oneself about this being the final installment in the series is the yummy possibility of a Mod spin-off. Anyone? Acorn Media. $39.99.

Not to be outdone by its third-party rivals, Nintendo also showed off some of their upcoming titles for the Nintendo DS. It was a good mix of kiddie and casual fare. The biggest came is one that’s coming out on… Continue Reading →

Not to be outdone by its third-party rivals, Nintendo also showed off some of their upcoming titles for the Nintendo DS.

It was a good mix of kiddie and casual fare. The biggest came is one that’s coming out on Sunday: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness. This title is a different take on the regular role-playing experience and puts players in the role of a pokemon.

Yep, I guess, every pokemon fan’s dream is to actually become one, and in this game, the main character wakes up on a beach transformed into a pocket monster. But before that happens, players answer a set of 16 questions, which determines what kind of pokemon you are. I ended up being a Torchic.

The game’s combat is a pseudo-action. Players delve into these dungeons and attack foes in real time. Pressing the A button attacks. Pressing L and A lets you do a special attack. But to perform these moves, you’ll have to move in close enough or get the opponent within the pokemon’s range. After that, it’s a turn-based process but the fighting moves on pretty fast.

Defeat a foe and they’ll join the hero’s group just as long as he or she escapes the dungeons. So the collection aspect is there. Overall, there are 490 creatures to collect and these creatures can evolve and develop new moves. There’s even a helpful option to combine certain moves together so that one button-press can cause a slashing and poison attack.

Another interesting option is the rescue component. At times, players will end up knocked out deep in a dungeon. What’s a pokemon to do? Well, they can call a friend. Buddies can help rescue fallen real-life comrades by going on to the game and delving deep into the game’s caves. Nintendo says the developer smoothed this option out and it isn’t as cumbersome as the previous version. But we’ll wait and see if it works when we get a copy.

I could never really get into Pokemon but maybe this twist on the old formula may give me some incentive to try it out again.

Call me a nerd, but Crossword DS is more my speed. It’s a simple crossword game by the folks at Nintendo that uses the company’s handwriting recognition program. The game is pretty straightforward. There are crossword puzzles. You have to solve them.

The puzzles come in different difficulties and players are timed and graded on how well they did. For the most part, the game works. The clues aren’t terrible difficult. This isn’t a Will Shortz game and it isn’t the The New York Times Crosswords for the DS. So it’s nice package for those people who didn’t apppear in the documentary Wordplay.

On top of the crosswords, there’s also anagrams, where you have to make as many words as possible out of a set of letters. It’s nice, simple, fun. And for those who may not like crosswords, there’s also a word search that’s easy to use. Just look for the word in the jumble of letters and draw a line through it.

The game keeps the old sprite graphics but works the background and music with a techno edge. You no longer die in one hit and instead you have a shield that’s marked off to the side. Frankly, I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. Other than moving and shooting, the game didn’t seem to have a set purpose.

And the developer went more for an atmosphere where you shot enemies instead of sticking the old style. This game may work if you wanted to play a classic with a twist, but purists may not be too happy.